Italy’s 'migrant boot camp'

Anti-immigrant sentiment has increased in Italy, with some politicians lauding Australia’s harsh policies on asylum seekers. But in Italy’s nationalist right-wing heartland, one town is tackling xenophobia with a unique, grassroots, approach: an integration camp.

Abdou Sambou, a student at "“The Academy for Integration, Grazie Bergamo" Source: Dateline

Watch ‘Italy’s Migrant Boot Camp’, 9.30 pm tonight, SBS

The town of Bergamo, in Northern Italy, has been trying to deal with the country's growing anti-immigrant sentiment with an unconventional experiment, "The Academy for Integration, Grazie Bergamo ".

The academy has been dubbed a 'migrant boot camp,' for its military-style approach to education.

Founded by the local Mayor and his chief of staff, Christophe Sanchez, their hard line tactics involve waking the students at 6am for cleaning duties, intensive Italian language classes and mandatory volunteer work in the community.

Christophe Sanchez with Keita, the first academy student to get temporary residency in Italy Source: SBS

Christophe wants the students "to be grateful for the country that is hosting them."

"I often tell them, you cost 35 euros a day, which is about 1,080 euros a month. In Italy we have welfare benefits of 400 euros a month, so keep that in mind," he told Dateline.

The Academy makes a deal with the migrants: in return for their hard work and dedication to their new Italian home, Christophe and his team will help the migrants find full time work.

Finding a permanent work contract is key to getting residency in Italy.

Watch ‘Italy’s Migrant Boot Camp’, by Amos Roberts and Agnes Teek, Tuesday 9.30pm SBS and on SBS OnDemand

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